Everybody Lies.

Actually, you can call House's soft office chair a couch because couch is really just french for couche and can be used to identify any furniture used for sitting or reclining, so a reclining chair could be called a couch and be used properly.

House's office doesn't have a sofa although Wilson's does. A sofa is a longish piece of furniture that fits two or more people. I would say when it comes to Wilson's two-seater that using either sofa or couch is fine. When it comes to House's chair, couch or chair is also fine but not sofa.

But you're right it depends on where you are. The English language borrows from many languages and then different cultures within English can have different meanings for the same word.

I generally never use the term sofa, I pretty much use couch all the time. Interesting tho.

Actually, House's Eames chair doesn't recline. The backrest can flex slightly and the chair can flex slightly on the base, but it isn't considered a reclining chair. He can stretch out and put his feet on the ottoman, but the back of the chair doesn't adjust to lie flatter. He sleeps sitting up.

But you're right it depends on where you are. The English language borrows from many languages and then different cultures within English can have different meanings for the same word.

I figured I'd ask because you are right; the meanings of words are very different among different cultures and in different regions; in the US, for example, a Coca-Cola or similar beverage can be called a Coke [regardless of whether it's a genuine Coke or not], soda, tonic, or pop depending on where you live.

I generally never use the term sofa, I pretty much use couch all the time. Interesting tho.

Me, too. The only time I use the word sofa is when it is a high-end piece of furniture. Since no one I know can afford high-end furniture, we use the term couch.